Pneumatic tire.



No. 307,537. PATBNTEB DB0. 19, 1005. E. M. BI ALL.

PNEUMA TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2e, 1904. REM;

WED MAY 22.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 807,537. PATENTBD DEC. 19, 1905. E. M. BIRDSALL.

PNEUMATIG TIRE.

APPLICATION PILED'JAN. 26, 1904. RENEWBD MAY 22.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

gceses:

. "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l EDGAR M. BIRDSALL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARY B. BIRDSALL AND ONE-HALF TO FLETCHER J. BARRON, OF

'BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR M. BIRDSALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pneumatic tire of the class which is shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 647,643, dated April 17, 1900, and in which the tire is composed of a series of communicating inflatable sections detachably secured to the wheel-rim, so that damaged sections can be removed and repaired or replaced by new sections. The invention has vmore particular reference to tires of this type in which rigid connecting-tubes are inserted in coinciding openings in the adjoining ends of the tire-sections to prevent collapsing of the connecting-passages between the air-chambers of the sections.

The object of my invention is the provision of simple and effective means for securing airtight joints between the tire-sections and their connecting-tubes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a tire embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of two of the tire-sections on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the base portions of two abutting tire-sections in line 4 4L, Fig. 2, showing their boltrecesses. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3, showing the base of the tire anged to form a clench-tire. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of one of the tire-sections, showing a modiication of the invention. Fig. 7 is a cross-section in line 7 7, Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the wheel-rim, provided,as usual, with a circumferential groove in which the tire-sections B are arranged and secured end to end. The tire-sections are constructed of rubber or other suitable elastic or yielding material and may be of any desired form. 1n

the form shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings they are cylindrical nearly throughout their ends, while in the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 the sections are provided with a flanged base b to form a clench-tire.

Each

tire-section is provided at its ends with reduced portions or short necks @,having straight ends which abut against the corresponding portions of adjoining sections and in which are formed longitudinal openings coinciding with the corresponding openings of the contiguous sections. In the alined openings of each pair of abutting sections is arranged a rigid connecting-tube D, of metal or other suitable material, which opens into the airchambers of the sections to form a conduit by which the air-chambers of the adjoining sections are placed in communication with each other. 1n order to form extensive bearings for this tube, the end portions of the tiresections are provided with internal bosses, housings, or enlargements E, throughout the length of which the connecting-tube extends.

F indicates a tubular envelop or covering of elastic sheet-rubber or similar yielding material impervious to air, which surrounds the rigid tube D and extends from end to end thereof. This covering is preferably secured to the rigid tube at intervals by cementing, vulcanizing, or otherwise, while the intervening portions f of the covering are free or detached from the tube and adapted to be in- Hated by the air-pressure within the tire-sections and expanded into grooves, cavities, or recesses g, formed in the tube-housings or thickened portions E of the tiresections around the tube. For this purpose the rigid tube D is provided in its wall opposite the unattached portions f of its elastic envelop with apertures L, through which the compressed air may pass for acting upon said unattached portions. In Fig. l all the detached portions of two abutting tire-sections are represented as being inflated into the cavities g, while Yin Fig. 2 the detached portions of the right-hand tire-section are shown inflated and those of the left-hand section are shown in their normal or deflated condition. When the tiresections are inflated and the detached portions of the tube-envelop expanded into the cavities g, as above described, these expanded portions extend across the joint between the tube and the surrounding walls of the openings in which it is seated and practically form hollow packing rings or beads, which extend Wholly around the rigid tube, producing an absolutely air-tight joint between the tube andthe tire-sections connected by the same.

IOO

The grooves or cavities g are preferably anpreferably protected by double thimbles I, ofl

metal or other suitable material,which lit into the rigid tube D and over the envelop, as best shown in Fig. 2. For the purpose of reinforcing the inner ends of the housings or enlargements E caps J, of metal or other rigid material, may be applied thereto, these caps being vulcanized in the enlargements and provided with central openings, which coincide with the inner tubes of the thimbles I.

Any suitable means may be employed for securing the connected tire-sections to the wheelrim. In the construction shown in the `drawings each of the rigid connectingtubes D is provided midway of its ends with a bolt or screw-stem K, which is arranged between the adjoining tire-sections and :passes through an opening in'the wheel-rim, a clamping-nut and a'washer 7a being applied tothe bolt. Upon tightening this bolt the adjoining portions of the connected tire-sections are firmly drawn against'the wheel-rim. The connecting-tube is preferably curved concentrically with the wheel-rim, as shown. Its bolt K is seated in semicircular recesses or depressions Z, formed in the vabutting ends of the sections, as shown in Fig. 4.

In assembling the sections of vthetire, a connecting-tube :D,`with its surrounding covering D, is inserted in one of an adjoining pair of sections until its bolt K abuts against the end of the -section, and the other section is then passed over the projecting portion of the tube.

ever, to secure it to the tube at .intervals to guard against displacement of the envelop on the tube and facilitate the insertion ofthe tube in the end openings ofthe tire-sections.

=lVIy invention contemplates, broadly, the use of an inflatable packing which when expandedextends across the joint between the connecting-tube and the adjacent portions of the tire-sections, and the packing is not necessarily arranged to be expanded radially of the deflated condition of the'diaphragm being indicated by dotted lines in said figure. The diaphragm is provided with acentral air-aperture c, which registerswiththe connectingtube.

This improved joint, whilefbeingabsolutely air-tight, is arranged wholly within 'theltiresections and employs no parts lwhichare liable Vto cut the rubber sections.,

I claim as my. inventionl. The combinationfof anin-iiatable tire-section, a 'connecting-tube 'arranged-in the-end of the section and communicating with ythe 'airchamber thereof, and a'n inatable packing interposed between vsaid tube `and the surrounding portion of the tire-sectiomsubstanti'ally as set forth.

2. The combination of a lpair of inflatable `tire-sections, a -tube arranged in theadjoining lends of the vsections and connecting the airchambers thereof, and a yielding packingfarranged between said conneoting-tu'beand the surrounding portions 'ofthe tire-sections and exposed Ito the air-pressure :within v@theftiresections, substantially `as 'setf'forth 3. The combination of ka pair of inflatable vtire-sections, a tube arranged-in'theadjoining ends of the sections-and connecting the airchambersthereof, 'and-a yielding packingfsurrounding said connecting-tube andhaving its inner surface exposed to fthe air-pressure'within the tube and -the"tiresections, substantially as set forth.

4. The c'ombinationof a pair of inflatable tire-sections, a tube arranged inthe adjoining ends of the sections vand'co'nnecting the `airchambers thereof, and `an elasticenfvelop or `covering secured to said 'tube yand 4having a portion or portions-thereof detached froln'the tube, the tube being provided opposite said detached portions with air-passages through which the inner-sides of said detached porjtions areexposed to the air-pressure in the tube and the'tire-sections, substantially as set chambers thereon-each section-being provided adjacent tothe wall 'of said tube with a recess IOO IIO

or cavity, and an iniiatable packing applied to the outer side of said tube, extending normally across said cavity and having its inner surface exposed to the air-pressure in the tube, whereby the packing is expanded into said cavities by the air-pressure, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a pair vof inflatable tire-sections, a connecting-tube arranged in the adjoining ends of the sections and provided with lateral air-passages, the tire-sections being provided opposite said air-passages With grooves or cavities which surround the connecting-tube, and an elastic covering or envelop applied to said tube and adapted to be expanded into said cavities by the air-pressure in the tire-sections, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a pair of inliatable tire-sections, a connecting-tube arranged in the adjoining ends of the sections and provided with lateral air-passages, the tire-sections be ing provided opposite said air-passages with grooves or cavities which surround the connecting tube, and an elastic covering surrounding said tube, the covering being secured to the tube only at intervals and the intervening detached portions of the covering being located opposite said cavities and air-passages, substantially as set forth.

8. An inflatable tire-section provided in its end with a longitudinal opening adapted to receive a connecting-tube, and in the Wall oi' said opening with an annular cavity or recess adapted to receive an inflatable packing, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 22d day of January,

EDGAR M. BIRDSALL. Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, EMMA M. GRAHAM. 

